Freeze Frame

Magbeth

The high water-mark of my career as an author: the manufacture and distribution of refrigerator magnets depicting the jackets of my books in miniature.

Ways I imagined, as a graduate student in creative writing, that my publisher would celebrate and/or promote the release of my books someday:

1. A reception in the publisher’s offices, with wine in plastic glasses and cheese and crackers on a plate passed by an editorial assistant wearing ironically ugly glasses and at least one garment fashioned from tweed.

Ways in which the publication of the aforementioned books was actually celebrated/promoted:

1. A party at the Roxy nightclub, on New York City’s far West Side, from the stage of which free copies of my book were tossed at the stroke of midnight. A “debate” at another nightclub, Palladium, “moderated” by Robin Leach (“Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”), who pronounced my name ADAM SAXTON and (mis)characterized me as SPEECHLESS when I paused before responding to my opponent’s contention that “If Madonna’s a feminist then Jeffery Dahmer is a vegetarian!” And Media: Vogue, Interview, Entertainment Weekly. Liz Smith’s column and Rolling Stone. (Desperately Seeking Madonna, 1993)

2. A book-signing at the Astor Place Barnes & Noble (now a David Barton Gym) – in the basement, between the guides to taking the SAT’s and the Fodor’s travel books. (Rap on Rap, 1995)

6. A lecture at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. and a signing at ComiCon East and a presentation at a vast public high school on the Lower East Side and a multi-city “satellite tour” (radio) and the shooting of an explanatory video to be posted on YouTube.

And, best of all, the high water-mark of my career as an author and possibly my life (Kidding! Sort of.): the manufacture and distribution of refrigerator magnets depicting the jackets of my books in miniature as well as oddly arbitrary scenes therefrom. (Shakespeare: The Manga Editions, 2007)

I’m not sure just what’s demonstrated, above. Shakespeare’s immortality? Madonna’s? The decline of the publishing industry – the decline of the written word? The fall and rise of my own career, such as it is?